Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Table of Contents I. System Maps II. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms III. m 1. Proposal Overview 2. Other Proposal Information 2.1. Nature of Proposal 2.2. History 3. Necessity for Light Rail 3.1. Necessity for Light Rail 3.2. Population Increases and Service Strain 3.3. Citywide Links and Future Development 3.4. Road Safety 3.5. Journey Times 4. Why Light Rail 4.1. Unsuitability of Other Systems 4.2. Lane Separation 4.3. Costs and Funding 5. Route Overview 5.1. Connection Objectives 5.2. Red Line 5.3. Blue Line 5.4. Future Extensions 6. Other Information 6.1. Potential Ridership 6.2. Tram and Technical Details 6.3. Stop Design 6.4. Branding 7. Integration with Public Transportation 7.1. Bus Transportation 7.2. Cork Suburban Rail 7.3. Air Transportation 7.4. Cycling 8. Problems and Challenges 8.1. Peripheral Construction 8.2. Parking 8.3. Eminent Domain 9. Conclusion 10. Indices and Contact Information Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City System Maps Interactive version can be found on www.corkluas.wordpress.com Key : ● Red - Red Line ● Blue - Blue Line ● Purple - Areas on both Red and Blue Lines ● Red Circle - stop on the Red Line ● Blue Circle - stop on the Blue Line ● Purple Circle - stop on both Red and Blue Lines ● Gray Circle - Park and Ride area ● Gray polygon - Park and Ride area overall system view 1 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City map of the city centre Map of the Ballincollig/Western area 2 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City Map of the Bishopstown/UCC area Eastern end of the system 3 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City Southern and Airport end Northeastern Hollyhill end of the system 4 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City Northern and Blackpool end of the system 5 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Bus Transportation - The use of buses as a form of mass transportation to bring passengers along a set route. Bus Éireann - The state-run company which operates bus services in the Republic of Ireland. In the Dublin Region, these services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. City & Town Services are operated in Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford, as well as in several larger towns. Bus Lane - A designated lane on roads which only permits usage by buses. These may merge in and out of mixed-traffic. Taxis are also permitted to use bus lanes. BusConnects - A government plan to put DBCs in Dublin City and surrounding areas. Consultation is currently underway. Plans are also being considered for Cork, and Galway. Bus Rapid Transit [BRT] - A form of mass transit that uses buses along lanes separated from traffic. Designated Bus Corridor [DBC] / Designated Bus Lane [DBL] / Core Bus Corridor [CBC] - A bus lane that is entirely separated for the length of its route, usually used in forms of Bus Rapid Transit. Quality Bus Corridor [QBC] - A lane-separated bus corridor designed to give priority to buses. 16 of them are found in Dublin. Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) - An EU fund aimed at investment in infrastructure and transportation throughout Europe. It operates through the provision of grants and financial agreements. Cork Suburban Rail [CSR] - The heavy rail commuter service operating between Cork City and suburban areas in the east. Routes connect Kent Station to Mallow, Cobh, and Midleton. Commuter Rail - A form of rail transit aimed at connecting suburban areas with city centre areas. Contactless Payment - The use of technology allowing the transfer of small sums of money in payment services without the need for manual input. Involves the use of NFC technology. Near-Field Communication [NFC] - A method of communicating between devices through use in proximity to each other. Frequently used in payment or connectivity services. 6 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City CPO [Compulsory Purchase Order] / Eminent Domain - The directive of the government to acquire private property from property owners. Compensation is provided. Dublin Suburban Rail - A five line network that service suburban communities in the Greater Dublin Area. It includes the DART, as well as four commuter lines stretching into Kildare, Wicklow, Louth, Wexford, Laois, and Meath, as well as a limited service in Armagh. DART [Dublin Area Rapid Transit] - A heavy rail rapid transit service running along Dublin’s eastern shore. DART Underground - A proposed section of the DART which would run underground through Dublin City Centre. Emerging Preferred Route - The route selected by transit authorities before public consultation. Due to other factors, namely public input, it may be changed before construction begins. European Regional Development Fund [ERDF] - An EU fund with the purpose of using funds from richer regions in the EU to develop infrastructure in poorer regions, with the intent of attracting industry and employment. Heavy Rail - The traditional train systems which form the national network. Integrated Ticketing - The ability to use a unified payment system on a number of different forms of transportation, such as rail, bus, and tram. ‘Ireland 2040’ Project - An infrastructure plan from the Fine Gael government aimed at planning for the growth of Ireland over the coming 20 years. These plans include several relating to transport infrastructure, including extensions to the Luas, DART, and national rail services. Crucially, also pledges the development of a mass transportation corridor in Cork City. Light Rail - A form of mass transportation in which rail lines are laid into roads to permit certain trains modified for such purposes to travel upon. They are frequently used as a way of transporting people from place in place in areas with sufficient demand. They operate at a higher capacity than most buses, and are usually given complete separation from the regular flow of traffic. Line Extension - The addition of additional services to an existing mass transit system, usually in the form of additional track and stops at an existing end of the system. Luas - The Luas is the light rail system currently operating in Dublin City. It possesses two routes running through the city centre to areas elsewhere in the city.. It opened in 2004. 7 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City Luas Green Line - The Green Line is one of two routes of Dublin’s light rail system, the Luas. It runs from Broombridge in the north of the city, to Bride’s Glen in the south. Luas Cross City - A completed project that connected the Red Line and the Green Line in the City Centre. It is the longest addition to the Luas system since its opening. Luas Red Line - The Red Line is one of two routes of Dublin’s light rail system, the Luas. It runs from two spurs, Tallaght and Saggart in the southwest of the city, to The Point in the east of the City Centre. MetroLink - A planned urban heavy rail network in Dublin City. Part of it is to run underground beneath the city centre. Plans were formerly known as Metro North and Metro South. Though expected to proceed, its exact fate is currently undecided. Not In My Backyard [NIMBY] - Objections to infrastructural and transit construction in a given area given by those opposed to such developments in the area. National Transport Authority [NTA] - The transportation authority for the Greater Dublin Area. It does not operate public transportation itself, but rather contracts transport services to other transport authorities. It operates services nationwide under the brand Transport for Ireland [TFI]. Public Private Partnership [PPP] - The use of capital funds from private companies as a means of generating short-term revenue for use in infrastructure projects. The money is paid back over a longer period of time. Real Time Passenger Information [RTPI] - The provision of information to passengers regarding the location of public transportation vehicles, usually taking the form of signs displaying the amount of time the vehicle is away from the waiting passenger. Can be integrated at stop level or through the use of mobile phone apps. Transport Infrastructure Ireland [TII] - The national organization with responsibility for road and transportation infrastructure in Ireland. Transit Oriented Development [TOD] - a form of urban planning which centres transit links in the development of housing, business, or leisure functions, as a means of ensuring these areas are well connected and attractive to potential consumers. Tram - Refers to the train itself which runs on the light rail system. Streetcar - A form of rail-based street transportation, similar to light rail, where the system runs in mixed traffic flow, over a shorter distance, with more frequent stops. More commonly found in the USA. 8 Proposal for Light Rail in Cork City 1.0 | Proposal Overview 1 Mockup of light rail running along Washington Street’ Due to the size of the greater Cork City area, and the future expectations of growth, a lot of change is going to become necessary in the coming years, across a wide variety of areas. One which will become an increasingly large concern is the future of public transportation. Increases in the amount of people in Cork City will put further strain on a system of public transport that is barely able to handle current capacities. Several solutions to this are available. In this document, I am proposing the construction of a two-line light rail system, similar to Dublin’s Luas, as a solution. The creation of a light rail transportation network can help link the main city area with the growing amount of people in the suburban areas in an environmentally conscious and efficient fashion. Cork City has recently undergone a number of transport initiatives, such as a reformation of the Park and Ride, as well as incentives to increase bus ridership.